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Wife Will Not Face Charges In Shootout

April 26, 1998|By From Tribune News Services.

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA — A woman who fired back at her husband after he shot her during a marriage counseling session will not face criminal charges.

Bonnie Martin was seriously wounded in Wednesday's shooting. Her husband Michael Martin, wounded in the shoulder, has been booked for investigation of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, felony spousal abuse and making terrorist threats.

"We believe that the appropriately charged party was Mr. Martin," District Atty. Ed Hunt said. "We did not believe there was sufficient evidence to charge her."

Martin had a gun in one hand and a beer in the other when he shot his wife as she tried to walk out of their counseling session at a church, said their counselor, Rev. Russell Willingham.